Moving Ahead
Dave Heffernan
The comeback of this athlete hailing from Mayo carries a positive note as his earlier appearance and tour were abruptly ended just four minutes into the New Zealand series in 2022. His father Ivan, a onetime Mayo goalkeeper and an All-Ireland Under-20 titleholder, became a companion in the coffee breaks for the rest of the tour.
Summoned as a replacement for Dan Sheehan in South Africa, the 33-year-old crossed the 200-mark caps for his province while playing every game for Connacht this season. His robustness and agility in handling the ball on both defence and offence are indeed noteworthy.
Cormac Izuchukwu
Joshua Brennan enlisted in France team for Autumn Series
Moving ahead or Stalled: The victors and setbacks in Ireland’s Autumn Nations Series squad
Jacob Stockdale’s resurgence grants Andy Farrell a bonus strength for Autumn Series
Connacht Rugby aims to operate a completely professional women’s team within half a decade
Born in London to a mother of Irish descent and a Nigerian father, Izuchukwu practiced at Tullamore and Roscrea College before being handpicked from Kelso by Anthony Eddy for the Ireland Sevens and joining the Ulster academy in 2020.
During the 2022 Emerging Ireland tour, Izuchukwu, a tall 24-year-old under the coaching of Dan McFarland, conducted only 25 games in four seasons. However, the situation was transformed following Richie Murphy reignited the alliance from their under-20s phase together and converted him to blindside. His outstanding performance secured him a spot in the summer and Emerging Ireland tours, and potentially a test debut against Fiji.
Sam Prendergast
Younger sibling of the Connacht skipper Cian and offspring of an army family who were keen participants of the sport for Newbridge College, he outshined in the Ireland Under-20s Grand Slam and World Cup final journey in 2023, and arrived as a training member for the 2024 Six Nations.
Named in the summer tour, the recent Emerging Ireland tour was specifically designed as a platform for Prendergast to exhibit his potential. Although tackling continues to be a problem, his ability to manage time and make use of his versatile kicks and passes are undoubted. He boasts a distinctive style, similar to Stephen Larkham. He is equally defiant and is entitled to be so.
Stalled
Jack Conan
A hamstring injury incurred during Leinster’s victory against Munster has ruled Conan out for the summer tour, which is unfortunate given his impressive start to the season. Racing covets him, and many hope he’ll receive a new contract for the 2027 World Cup. If that doesn’t happen, the 32-year-old may have, inconceivably, already participated in his final match for Ireland.
Jordan Larmour
A significant player in the 2018 Grand Slam, Larmour made a comeback almost three years later in the previous Six Nations season. He headlined the championship crowning against Scotland. Despite being part of the summer tour, a hamstring injury during a training session before Leinster’s journey to Treviso has put the 27-year-old on pause.
Jimmy O’Brien
O’Brien’s performance in three distinct positions during the 2022 Autumn Nations Series was commendable. His only World Cup exposure was as a substitute in the quarter-final match against New Zealand. The 27-year-old was sidelined due to a neck injury in the prior Six Nations series. Despite being selected for the summer tour, he didn’t make an appearance after sustaining a hamstring injury during Leinster’s trip to Treviso.